Antifriction-clip for reapers and mowers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

, 'P. BAROLAY. ANTIPRIGTIONULIP FOR REAPBRS AND MOWERS.

Patented Dec. 1,189.6.

.(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F-lBARGLAY. ANTIPRIGTION GLIP FOR REAPERS AND MOWERS.

No. 572,402. Patented Dee. 111896.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BARCLAY, OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA.

ANTlFRlCTlON-CLIP FOR REAPERS AND MOWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,402, dated December 1, 1896- Appncaaon fil d May 11,1896. Serial No. 591,089. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, FRANK BARCLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beatrice,

in the county of Gage and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in An tifriction-Olipsfor Reapers and Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to reapers and mowers, and consists in the peculiar construction and application of a clip for holding ball-bearin gs, by which these clips and the balls can be applied to reapers and mowers already in use without any change in the machine other than the substitution of the new clips with the balls in place of the old clips, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of the finger-bar and sickle with the improved clips and balls applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line a: 00 of Fig. 1, representing the cutter-bar and sickle as usually constructed in mowers; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cutter-bar and sickle as usually constructed for reapers. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the clip detached in order to better illustrate its under side or face. Fig. 5 is a view of an adjusting-plate detached. Fig. 6 is an end view showing the open space between the face of the cutter-bar and the front portion of the clips.

Various attempts have heretofore been made to apply ball-bearings t0 the cutter-bars of reapers and mowers, but for various reasons they have not come into general use. One special reason is that as heretofore attempted the parts have been so constructed as to require more or less alterations in the parts to which the clips and balls were applied and which could only be done at the factory or when the machines were first built.

The object of my invention is to overcome this and other difficulties or objections by so constructing my clip that it can be applied with the balls to the reapers and mowers already in use, or as they are usually constructed, without any alterations in the machine as originally made, by simply removing the old clips and substituting the new ones with the balls.

All reapers and mowers are made with a fiat cutter-bar A, to which the finger-guards b are bolted, as shown in the several figures, and on these cutter-bars clips are fastened which project over the sickle bar or cutter to hold the latter in place, the finger-guards I) being secured to the cutter-bar A by bolts I, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The sickle or cutter in all these machines is composed of a series of double-edged A-shaped teeth riveted or bolted to a bar (1. In mowers the teeth are usually secured to the upper side of the bar d, as represented in Fig. 2, While in reapers they are usually secured to the under side of the bar, as represented in Fig. 3. I

Now to apply my improvement to the machines thus made I construct a clip B of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, it being provided with two oblong bolt-holes n, so located as to correspond with the bolts I, which hold two adjoining finger-guards, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This clip has its front portion raised somewhat, and in the under side of this raised portion I form a cavity 0 of the proper width to receive and hold the balls 6 loosely, the front edge and both ends of the clip being made to project downward, as shown at I, j ustfar enough to prevent the balls from escaping when the clip is secured to the bar A, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At its center it is provided with a projecting finger a, which occupies a position over the cutter and holds the latter down in place. In some machines the teeth or sections are secured to their bar cl by a round-headed rivet, which head projects, and for that reason the under side of thisprojecting finger a is made concave, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to prevent the rivetheads from touching the finger.

In those cases where the rivet-head is on the under side, as represented in Fig. 3, the cavity in the under side of the finger is not required, and in such cases the under side of the finger is made straight to the point where it hooks over the front edge of the bar cl, as shown.

To apply the clip and balls to a reaper, it is only necessary to remove the original clips and apply my clips B and place the balls therein before fastening them in place. To fasten the clips, it is only necessary to remove the bolts which hold the finger-guards and insert others long enough to reach through the holes in the clips also and receive a nut, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The object of the oblong holes 7% is to enable the clips to be adjusted and bring the balls in all of the clips exactly in line, so that the cutter-bar will bear uniformly on all the balls. When thus applied, it will be seen that the rear edge of the sickle will bear against the balls, and as the great amount of friction is on this rear edge of the sickle, because the thrust caused in the act of cutting is almost wholly from the front backward, it follows that the friction will be greatly reduced and that consequently much less power will be required to operate the machine.

It will be observed that when the clip is secured in place an open space is left at each end between the ledge Z and the bar A, as

shown in Fig. 6, which space, while not quite large enough to let the balls escape, will readily permit the escape of any dust, dirt, or other substance that may enter the cavity, and that the movement of the balls constantly to and fro from one end to the other of the cavity will tend to force out any material that may enter, and thus keep the space clear.

To compensate for the slight difference in thickness of the sickle-bar (Z in different machines, I provide a series of very thin plates 25, one of which is shown detached, and insert one or more, as may be required, between the cutter-bar A and the clip 13, as represented in Fig. 2. By this means the clips can be adjusted to all machines.

To apply my invention to the great mass of both reapers and mowers, it is only necessary to have two patterns, one for that class of machines which have the teeth secured to the under side of the sickle-bar, as shown in Fig. 2, and the other for that class of machines which have these parts reversed, as in Fig. 3. These clips will be made of malleable iron, so that their projecting finger at can be bent more or less, as may be required, to insure a fit upon the sickle or its bar.

The great advantage of this improvement is that by its use every farmer who uses a reaper or mower can himself apply it to his machine, as no recesses have to be cut in the cu tter-bar, no new holes made, nor any change whatever, merely to remove the old clips and substitute the new ones with their balls, and which can be done by the use of a wrench or such tools as are usually carried with the machine, and in a brief time.

Another advantage is that when the sickle is removed for being sharpened or for any purpose the balls are held securely in place and prevented from rolling out and being lost.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a clip composed of a single piece of metal, adapted to fit upon the upper surface of the fingerbar of a reaper or mower, with a groove in the under side of its front portion adapted to receive and hold a series of antifriction-balls in line with the rear right-angled edge of the sickle or its bar, and prevent their escape when the sickle is removed, with a front finger to project over the sickle and hold it in position, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a smooth or [iatfaced finger-bar A, the clip B provided with a channel or groove in the under side of its front portion adapted to receive and hold a series of antifriction-balls upon the flat surface of the finger-bar directly in line with the rear right-angled edge of the sickle or its bar, with a front projecting finger a to hold the sickle in position,and having elongated boltholes 01. for adjusting the clip and bal1s,whereby said clip and balls can be applied to ordinary reapers or mowers without any alteration of the same as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand \Vitnesses:

E. D. WHEELocK, A. J. PETHOND. 

